Ruben Amorim's stance on Bruno Fernandes exit as Real Madrid hatch transfer plan

Real Madrid are interested in signing Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes this summer, but Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim is desperate to keep the Portugal international

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim wants captain Bruno Fernandes to stay at Old Trafford, despite Real Madrid reportedly eyeing a move for the midfielder. Fernandes has been a key player for United since joining the club from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.

Fernandes has made 177 goal contributions in 277 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils, including 12 goals and nine assists in 27 games under Amorim. However, the Daily Star are reporting that Real Madrid are interested in the 30-year-old.

The report states that they have sent scouts to 'virtually every United match recently' to watch Fernandes in action, with the Portugal international viewed as a potential successor to Luka Modric.

It is claimed that even though Amorim wants to keep Fernandes, United's finances mean they will 'consider a big offer'. "When we need it, he's always there," Amorim said of Fernandes after he scored a hat-trick as United knocked Real Sociedad out of the Europa League earlier this month.

"In the set-pieces, he can change position, he can bring the ball forward, he can score goals, he can make transitions, like he showed today in the last 10 minutes of the game. He can defend so it's a perfect captain for our team, and we need to help him to win titles, because he deserves a lot."

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently admitted the club have a number of players who are "not good enough" and "overpaid", but insisted they "definitely need Bruno". Ratcliffe told the BBC : "If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn't buy, we're buying Antony, we're buying Casemiro, we're buying Onana, we're buying Hojlund, we're buying Sancho.

"These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we've inherited those things and have to sort that out. For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we're paying £17m to buy him in the summer.

"Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid. But for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We've got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.

"There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he's a fantastic footballer."

Fernandes did sign a new contract back in August, revealing that he had the opportunity to leave Old Trafford but ended up agreeing an extension as the club "showed that it needed me".

"The club was aware that there was a possibility of me leaving, I had concrete offers," he revealed. "But the club showed that it needed me, that it was at a time of change and that they wanted to do things differently.

"I believe there is a dream future at this club with the changes that are taking place. That's why I chose to stay. There were other directions that would have been interesting for me, other expectations. But I feel good here, I feel loved and I feel that the club has been very respectful of me."

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